No-nonsense quarterly breakdown for regular people

If you’ve been hearing “the market is doing this” and “interest rates are doing that,” and you’re wondering what’s actually happening in the Kamloops area — here’s the straight answer.

Q1 2026 started slow, picked up in March, inventory has been building, and prices have stayed surprisingly steady.

This report covers:

• Kamloops & District as a whole (the big-picture market)

• Merritt (the value market that keeps getting attention)

• Logan Lake (small market, steady demand)

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Q1 2026 Kamloops & District: The Big Picture

Sales and dollar volume

In Q1 2026, Kamloops & District posted:

• 444 residential sales

• $262.9 million in total sales volume

Compared to Q1 2025:

• Sales were down 7.9%

• Dollar volume was down 6.9%

What that means in normal language:
People were slower to pull the trigger early in the year — but it wasn’t a meltdown. It was hesitation.

Why did the year start so slow?

The report notes buyer uncertainty around the Cowichan ruling and interest rate outlook. The key detail: March sales exceeded 2025 levels, suggesting momentum picked up as spring approached.

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Listings in Q1 2026: More Choice for Buyers

As of March 2026:

• 1,215 active listings (basically flat, +0.4%)

• 1,186 new listings in Q1 (+4.0%)

The report makes an important point: inventory is rising more because sales slowed, not because everyone rushed to list.

Why you should care:
More listings generally means more options, less pressure, and more negotiating room for buyers.

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Q1 2026 Market Stats by Property Type (Kamloops & District)

Single-Family Homes (Detached)

• 209 sales (+2.5%)

• Benchmark price: $675,400 (+2.1%)

• Days to sell: 66

• Inventory: 517 (-1.7%)

Townhomes

• 84 sales (+16.7%)

• Benchmark price: $498,100 (-1.9%)

• Days to sell: 59

• Inventory: 146 (+18.7%)

Condos/Apartments

• 52 sales (-29.7%)

• Benchmark price: $360,100 (-5.4%)

• Days to sell: 87

• Inventory: 187 (+10.7%)

Takeaway:
Detached homes are still the backbone. Townhomes gained traction. Condos slowed down and buyers have more options there.

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Merritt Real Estate Market Update (Q1 2026)

This is where Merritt continues to stand out: affordability + steady pricing.

Merritt detached homes

• 11 sales (down 21.4%)

• Benchmark price: $473,300 (up 2.2%)

  2026 Q1 Kamloops & Distric…

Merritt townhomes

• 6 sales (up 500%)

• Benchmark price: $321,400 (basically flat, +0.1%)

  2026 Q1 Kamloops & Distric…

Merritt condos/apartments

• 3 sales (up 200%)

• Benchmark price: $276,500 (down 2.0%)

  2026 Q1 Kamloops & Distric…

What Merritt is telling us:
Even with fewer detached sales year-over-year, the benchmark price is still up. Entry-level product (townhomes/condos) saw more activity — which often signals first-time buyers are active.

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Logan Lake Real Estate Market Update (Q1 2026)

Logan Lake is always a smaller sample size market, but the direction is clear.

• 11 detached sales (+57.1%)

• Benchmark price: $474,900 (+3.8%)

  2026 Q1 Kamloops & Distric…

• 1 townhouse sale

• 1 apartment sale; apartment benchmark $174,200 (-0.2%)

Takeaway:
Logan Lake remains steady, and when listings show up, buyers pay attention.

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Merritt & Logan Lake vs Kamloops: Why People Keep Looking Here

Here’s the cleanest way to explain it to anyone living in Vancouver or the coast:

• Kamloops & District detached benchmark: $675,400

• Merritt detached benchmark: $473,300

• Logan Lake detached benchmark: $474,900

That’s a roughly $200,000+ gap in typical detached home pricing.

In normal terms:
You can often get into a detached home (or a larger property) in Merritt/Logan Lake for what might buy you a much smaller home—or a condo—in many coastal markets.

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What This Means for Buyers and Sellers

If you’re buying

• More inventory means more choice and less panic.

• Well-priced homes in the more affordable ranges still attract demand.

If you’re selling

• The market isn’t “on fire,” but it’s not dead.

• Pricing like it’s still 2021 can lead to a long sit — the report mentions some sellers remain anchored to peak pricing.

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Bottom Line: Q1 2026 in One Sentence

Slow start, stronger March, rising inventory, steady prices — and Merritt/Logan Lake remain the value markets inside the Kamloops region.